Former Bethlehem man may recant confession, take sex-assault case to trial

Accused of molesting two girls, he entered plea bargain June 15.

September 10, 2006|By Tyra Braden Of The Morning Call

A former Bethlehem man who admitted he sexually assaulted two girls and lied about his identity when caught, may take it all back and go to trial.

Alfredo Reyes-Rodriguez, 47, was set to be sentenced Friday by Northampton County Judge Emil Giordano. On June 15, Reyes-Rodriguez pleaded guilty two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child, indecent assault and corruption of a minor.

In a related case, he also pleaded guilty to unsworn falsification.

In exchange for the plea, attempted rape of a child and attempted aggravated indecent assault of a child charges were dropped.

According to police and court records, Reyes-Rodriguez assaulted a 12-year-old girl several times between 2001 and 2004. He "told the victim he would kill her if she ever told anyone," records show.

A 9-year-old girl said Reyes-Rodriguez attacked her several times beginning in May 2005, according to police. On March 17, she was interviewed by police. Reyes-Rodriguez, she said, told her he would kill her if she told anyone what had happened.

"He also told her if she did tell, [she] would be poor and live on the street," according to court records.

During their investigation, police spoke with Reyes-Rodriguez on March 27. Police said he gave them false identification.

Defense attorney Edward Andres of Bethlehem told Giordano on Friday that Reyes-Rodriguez was considering withdrawing his plea and going to trial.

"I regret that this request is being made at the last second," Andres said, pointing out that he would like another opportunity to review the prosecution's evidence with his client.

Assistant District Attorney Patricia C. Broscius said she had no objection to having Reyes-Rodriguez withdraw his plea and was prepared to take him to trial on all charges.

Broscius on Friday had planned to present testimony from the two girls and from a member of the state's sexual offenders assessment board. Giordano suggested the witnesses testify Friday, but Broscius said that because the case may go to trial, she didn't want to move forward.

Giordano told Reyes-Rodriguez he had until Wednesday to decide if he wanted his plea to stand. If not, the judge said, trial will begin Sept. 18. Andres said he didn't "mean to be difficult," but he could not be ready for trial that quickly.